Name:Abigail LaFromboise
Introduction to Psychology (4)
Study Guide Ch. 1
Please include the question before your answer when completing the study guides—it makes it easier for me to grade them! Thanks.
Begin by reading page 1 about the virtual and the real you. It sets up the study for this course nicely. People seem to be innately curious about other people. I think you’ll enjoy this course of study!
1. Define Psychology. What are the three key terms in this definition? Explain each of them.
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental process.
Three key terms: science, behavior, and mental process
Psychology uses scientific methods to observe and draw conclusions about a human’s behavior.
Behavior is everything that we do that can be observed directly.
Mental process is your thoughts, feelings, and motives that you experience privately and can’t be observed directly.
2. After psychologists observe behavior, what are the goals of psychological science?
The goals of psychological science are describe, predict, explain, and change behavior.
3. Give a brief review of some of the early roots of psychology. Include some of the early explanations of human behavior and the psychologists who studied behavior.
Some of the early roots of psychology include,
4.
Establish a relationship between the following four words: structuralism, functionalism, “what” and “why”.
5. Who is the theorist associated with natural selection? Define it.
Charles Darwin is the theorist associated with natural selection. Natural selection is an evolutionary process where organisms that best adapt to their environment will survive and create offspring.
6. List the seven contemporary approaches to psychology. After reading the brief description of each one, read the summary on pg. 11 which summarizes each of their application to the same scenario.
Biological Approach:
Behavioral Approach:
Psychodynamic Approach:
Humanistic Approach:
Cognitive Approach:
Evolutionary Approach:
Sociocultural Approach:
7. Study carefully the section on Experimental Research on page 23-24. Explain in your own words the independent variable and the dependent variable.
8. Read and explain the Nun Study on pgs. 22-23. What did this longitudinal study conclude? TheDo Itactivity might be interesting for you…. How many positive emotions do you find in your old sent e-mails or texts? Might this have an effect on your longevity?
9. Identify the control group, experimental group, independent variable and the dependent variablein the following experiment:A researcher wants to find out ifgiving pop quizzes periodically during the math unit will raise their test scores.
Control Group:The students that don’t take the pop quizzes.
Experimental Group:The students that take the pop quizzes.
Independent Variable:The number of students that do well on the pop quizzes.
Dependent Variable:If giving pop quizzes periodically during math will raise the students test scores.
10. A study on obesity had four groups, each with a different assignment.One group of participantsread a brochure about diet and nutrition;another group had a 30-minute nutrition counseling session;a third group read the newspaper;a fourth group watched a video about exercise and fitness. The control group is
a. the group that had a counseling session.
b. the group that read the newspaper.
c. the group that read the brochure.
d. the group that watched the video
11. Only experimental research allows researchers to determineCausality.
12. List the four ethical guidelines that must be followed when conducting research. These will ensure that no participant leaves the experiment worse off than before the experiment began.
13. Of the 18 categories of Psychology given in your text on page 12, which one, upon initial reaction, interests you the most? Which one do you think would benefit you most in your career choice? Why?
Note: These next questions are worth 3 pts. Each—take time to formulate a well written and carefully thought out response in order to receive full credit! Think critically. (Maybe you should reread page 3!)
14. Read Pg. 33 “Are We Truly Ourselves Online”. Comment on your own active or passive use of social media. Do you agree with the finding here and why? (3 pts.)
15. A Youtube video called “Charlie Bit My Finger” went viral. Watch it and determine how each of the following theories would explain the appeal: Psychodynamic, Behaviorist, social cultural, and Evolutionary (See the self-quiz on pg. 13 #4 for a little help) (3 pts.)
16. College students participated in a study to determine whetherthe number of hours of sleep a person gets determines how well they will do on an exam the next day were randomly assigned to eitherthe group that was woken up at various times throughout the night orthe group that was allowed to sleep through the entire night. Determine the following elements of that experiment. (3 pts.)
Control group:The group that was allowed to sleep through the night.
Experimental group:The group that was woken up at various times throughout the night.
Independent variable:The number of hours of sleep a college student gets.
Dependent variable:How well the college students will do on an exam.
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